NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
Stiftungsfest is Minnesota’ s oldest fest
One hundred and sixty-four years ago a German singing society in Young America, began a music festival that has grown and evolved over the years to continue to proudly be Minnesota’ s Oldest Consecutive Celebration.“ Stiftungsfest” is an annual celebration which honors our strong German heritage in our community of Norwood Young America.
Stiftungsfest, which means“ Founders Day Celebration” in German, will mark its 164th year in 2025. The four-day celebration has attracted crowds of more than 10,000 people in recent years. Every year, nearly 20 bands perform all weekend under the Big Tent, the Heritage Tent and Beer Garden stage. Stiftungsfest hosts one of Minnesota’ s largest men’ s and women’ s softball tournaments, and also features an arts & craft sale, classic car show, kickball tournament, sheephead card tournament, a local firefighter challenge, the Stiftungsfest Ambassador Coronation, a polka church service, 5K fun run, a mini pedal pull contest and carnival for the kids.
The Heritage Tent shows a different themed display every year, and a great fireworks display is usually shown to end the celebration. A huge parade, held on the Sunday of Stiftungsfest, is traditionally held every fifth year, with 2026 being the next parade year.
This year Stiftungsfest will be held on Thursday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 24 at Willkommen Memorial Park in Norwood Young America.
Those attending the celebration will be able to enjoy all the entertainment and music for a $ 6 adult entry fee, with kids 12 and under, and adults 80 and older, getting in free.
The community owes the renowned“ Stiftungsfest” festival to the Pioneer Maennerchor, a men’ s choral society that began a one day celebration in 1861. In 1938, the group dropped to eight members and Pioneer Maennerchor turned the celebration over to the city with management handled by the fire department.
In 1956, Stiftungsfest became a three-day celebration. In 1981, a band from Diedesfeld Germany came to Stiftungsfest to perform and has become NYA’ s sister city in Germany. 1986 was the first year of the Big Tent in which countless bands have performed.
Rain or shine, the event goes on! In 1996, Stiftungsfest incorporated, and the current committee consisting of firefighters and local community members work every month of the year to put on the annual celebration.
Save the date- Aug. 21-24, 2025. See you at Stiftungsfest!
NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA | COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025 | 13